§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the EU's position regarding the control of BSE, with particular reference to the export of processed meat. [146077]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 18 January 2001]: Under Commission Regulation 2777/2000 no beef from animals over 30 months old may be sold for human consumption unless it has been tested for BSE with a negative result, and specified risk material has to be removed from all beef going into the food chain.
In addition, the European Community has imposed controls on the export of processed bovine meat from the United Kingdom and from Portugal.
Export from the UK may take place only in accordance with Council Decision 98/256/EC, which sets out emergency measures to protect against BSE. No plants are approved to export processed beef of UK origin. A list of plants approved to export processed beef of foreign origin is available on the MAFF website at http//:www.maff.gov.uk/animalh/int-trade/default.htm.
Commission Decision 98/653/EC (as amended) prohibits the export of processed beef from Portugal.